Coaster.



A. D. CONVERSE.

COASTER.

V APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 1917- L w fifig Patented May 29, 191?.

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specification of letters Patent.

Patented May as, tort.

Application filed January 25, 191?. Serial Ito. 145,022.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, ATHERTON D Converse, a citizen or the United States of America and a resldent of l/Vmchendon, 1n the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coasters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to childrens coasters, and particularly to devices of this character which are intended for use on smooth pavements.

The object of the invention is to provide easy acting steering mechanism whereby the forward traction member may be readily turned even when there is considerable weight on the platform.

The invention consists of a platform having steering member perpendicular thereto, the upper end of which an actuating handle universally connected thereto.

The invention furtherconsists in certain novel features oi construction and arrangement of parts which will be fully understood by reference to the descri tion oi the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a plan of a device em bodying the principles oi the present in vention. v

Fig. 2 represents an elevation of thesame.

Fig; 3 represents a front elevation of the same, with the handle broken ofi, and

Fig. 4: represents an enlarged vertical section of the forward end of thedevice.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figures oi the drawings.

In the drawings, is a platform having a rod 11 extending horizontally throughthe rear end thereof. On the ends of said rod 11 are mounted revoluble traction members 12. Between these traction members and the sides of the platform 10 are Washers 13 while similar Washers l4: surround the rod 11 outside of the traction members 12.

The ends of the rod 11 are upset in order to retain the traction members 12 thereon.

To the upper face of the front end of the platform 10 are secured by bolts 15 the two parts 16 of a block extending forwardly beyond the front end of the platform 10, as indicated in the drawings. The forward end of the block l6l6 has a cylindrical opening 17 therethrough, the axis of which is perpendicular to the upper face of the platform 10. The two parts 16-16 of the block are secured together by means of the bolt 18. A steering member 19 is positioned in the opening 17 and is freely revoluble therein. This steering member 19 is provided with a transverse pin 20 between which and the lower face of the block 16i6 is interposed a washer 2i. Surrounding the steering member 19 is another washer 22, said washer bearing against the upper face of the bloclr l 8-16.

Above the washer 22 are secured two upwardly extending members 23 provided with projections 2 iextending inwardly toward each other. The lower end of the steering member 19 is provided with a pin 25 extending transversely therethrough. On the opposite ends of the pin are the wheels 26. Between these wheels and the steering member 19 are interposed washers 27 and other washers 28 are mounted on the pin 25 adjacent to the outer faces of said wheels 26.

"When these wheels have been positioned, the extreme outer ends of the pin 26 are upset to retain the wheels in position and prevent their accidental displacement. The projections 24- on the upwardly extending members 23 are positioned in the opposed cylindrical openings 29 in the downwardly extending flange of a cup-shaped member 30. This flange of the cup-shaped member 30 is also provided with two opposed cylindrical openings 31 at right angles to the cylindrical openings 29. into these openings 31 extend the projections 32 of arms 33 secured to the lower end of an actuating handle 3% by means of the rivet 85.

The members 33 are prevented from turning about the axis of the rivet 35 by means of the projections 36 extending into slots in the side of the actuating handle 34:. The extreme upperend of the actuating handle 34 is provided with laterally extending cylindrical members 37 which may be grasped by the hands of the operator.

When the universal connection between the steering member 19 and the actuating handle 34 are in the position shown in the.

drawings, the handle 34 may be dropped into the position shown in Fig. 1 with the rear end thereof lying upon the upper face of the platform 10. The cylindrical members 37 are of such alength as to permit them to clear the wheels 12 when dropped into this inoperative position. When in this position the whole device will occupy but very little space.

The steering member 19 is of such a length and so mounted in its bearing in the block 16-16 that the platform 10 will be slightly inclined upwardly toward the front of the device. f

'Heretofore in devices of this character,

I the steering member has been disposed at an angle to the platform 10, and when thus po sitioned it is extremely dificult to steer the coaster. As the steering member is rotated the steering wheel is turned more or lesson one edge and causes an imperf'ectsupport weight upon the platform would be quickly distributed on the various traction members.

In the other constructions of coasters before referred to, the greater the weight upon the platform the more difficult would be the steering operation, while in the present device the front traction members may be turned freely regardless of the amount of weight carried.

Another advantage of the device is that by making it possible to have a steering member perpendicular to the platform 10, two wheels may be used instead of one, as is now more generally used. Heretofore, if

- two wheelswere used on the steering mechanism, in use one wheel would be lifted from the groundduring the steering.

Making the blocks 1616 in two parts makes it possible to assemble the steering member 19 and the parts connected therewith with the block 1616, after which said block may be secured to the platform 10 by means of the bolts 15. r

In order to prevent side movement of the handle 34 and give the operator some support while the device is in use, a sector 40 is provided extending downwardly through a slot 41 in the platform 10. The upper end of said sector 40 is bent at 42 to form an ear names 43 having an opening therethrough through which extends a dowel 44 secured at opposite ends to the two parts of the handle 34 by means of pins 45. The dowel 44 freely turns in the opening in the car 43 and said dowel connects the two parts of said handle 34 so as to give suflicient rigidity thereto.

By means of this construction lateral play of the handle 34 is prevented while it is adapted to freely turn about its axis when it is desired to steer the coaster. The sector 40 is provided at its lower end with several transverse openings 46'-through either of which may extend a pin 47 having a head 48 at one end and a transverse opening in the opposite end adapted to receive a locking pin 49 secured to the platform 10 by means of a chain 50 so that said pin will not be.lost when removed from the opening in the pin 47.

The inclination of the handle 34 may be variedby moving the sector 40 into various positions and inserting the pin 47 into either end of the holes 46 as desired. When the device is not in use and the handle 34 is moved down upon the platform 10, it may be secured in position by means of inserting the pin 47 through the opening 51 at the upper end of said sector. This means of preventing a lateral movement of the actuating handle 34 is of considerable advantage, as

it steadies the operator when the device is in use. 1

It is believed that the operation and many 7 advantages of this invention will be fully understood from the foregoing description. Having thus describedmy invention, I claim: I

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform; parallel traction members at the rear end thereof; a centrally divided block projectin from the forward upper face of said plat orm; a' bolt connecting the two parts of said block; bolts connecting both parts of said block to said platform; a steering member extending through said block with its axis perpendicular to said platform; a traction mem-v ber secured to the lower end of said steering member; and an operating handle universally connected to the upper end of said steering member.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform; parallel traction members at the rear end thereof; a steering member atthe forward end of and perpendicular to said platform; a traction 'member secured to the lower end of said drical portion.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform; parallel trac tion members at the rear end thereof; a steering member at the forward end of and perpendicular to said platform; a traction member secured to the lower end of said steering member; an actuating handle universally connected to the upper end of said member and provided with a cylindrical portion; a vertical member projecting upwardly from said platform and having a bearing at its upper end for said cylindrical portion; and means for adjusting said vertical member relatively to said platform;

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform; parallel traction members at the rear end thereof; a steeringmember at the forward end of and perpendicular to said platform; a traction member secured to the lower end of said steering member; an actuating handle universally connected to the upper end of said member and provided with a cylindrical portion; a vertical member projecting up \vardly from said platform and having a bearing at its upper end for said cylindrical portion and provided with a plurality of openings therethrough; and a pin in said platform adapted to be positioned in either of said openings.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform; parallel traction members at the rear end thereof; a steering member at the forward end of and perpendicular to said platform; a traction member secured to the lower end of said steering member; a two-part actuating handle universally connected to the upper end of said member, said parts being connected by a dowel; and a member secured to said platform having an opening therein through which said dowel extends.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform; parallel traction members at the rear end thereof; a L

steering member at the forward end of and perpendicular to said platform; a traction member secured 'to the lower end of said steering member; a two-part actuating handle universally connected to the upper end a 

